LIFE IS A GAME OF CHANCE

Release Date: October 1979

Running Time:  35 minutes

The first release on their new label Philips saw the Fivepenny Piece revert to their tried and tested formula of a mixture of comic and pop songs.  Bernard Wrigley and Dave Dutton provide three songs,  whilst John Meeks and Colin Radcliffe supply the tale of a rag and bone man 'The Dutchman'  'Dear Albert' and the title track.  John Meeks also teams up with other collaborators with 'Our Corner Shop's A Supermarket Now',  'Miss Prim and Proper' and 'I Like The Working Classes'.  Ian Tyson's ever popular 'Four Strong Winds' gets the Fivepenny treatment, as does Brian and Michael's 'Matchstalk Men and Matchstalk Cats and Dogs' which might have been tailor made for the group with its tribute to the Salford painter L.S. Lowry.

Producer:  CHRIS HARDING

Pianist:  Pete Lingwood

Drummer:  Phil Barlow

Cassette Philips 7108 197

Side 1

1. The Dutchman (J. Meeks / C. Radcliffe)
2. Life Is A Game Of Chance (J. Meeks / C. Radcliffe)
3. Matchstalk Men & Matchstalk Cats & Dogs (Burke / Coleman)
4. When Granny Sang Me Songs (Dutton / Wrigley)
5. Let Me Down Easy (Lobo / Winslow / Sandler)
6. Dear Albert (1) (J. Meeks / C. Radcliffe)
7. Our Corner Shop’s A Supermarket Now (J. Meeks / Ashton)

Side 2

1. Buggerlugs Loves Sugar Butty (Dutton / Wrigley)
2. Miss Prim And Proper (J. Meeks / Ashton)
3. I Like The Working Classes (J. Meeks / Johnson)
4. Four Strong Winds (Ian Tyson)